Cartel leader 'El Mayo’ Zambada claims he was kidnapped, not tricked, into flying to US for arrest
Cartel leader was tricked into boarding plane before arrest
The Mexican drug kingpin Ismael Zambada Garcia, also known as "El Mayo," who co-founded the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel was taken into custody in El Paso on Thursday, according to the Department of Justice. Also taken into custody was Juaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of the cartel's other co-founder, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Mary Beth Sheridan, The Washington Post's bureau chief in Mexico City, joined LiveNOW to provide more details on "El Mayo" and the Sinaloa Cartel.
‘El Mayo’ Zambada, the Mexican drug cartel leader who was arrested Thursday after decades of eluding authorities, claims he was "forcibly kidnapped" by the son of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, according to his attorney.
U.S. officials, however, say the Sinaloa cartel leader was duped into getting on the plane that flew him to an airport in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, where agents were waiting to arrest him on various drug charges, the Associated Press reports.
"My client neither surrendered nor negotiated any terms with the U.S. government," Frank Perez, Zambada’s attorney, said in a statement. "Joaquín Guzmán López forcibly kidnapped my client. He was ambushed, thrown to the ground, and handcuffed by six men in military uniforms and Joaquin. His legs were tied, and a black bag was placed over his head."
MORE: ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, a leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, arrested by US authorities
Perez added that Zambada, 76, was thrown in the back of a pickup truck, forced onto a plane and tied to the seat by Guzmán López, son of the notorious kingpin "El Chapo."
FILE - Image from a U.S. Department of State wanted poster showing Ismael Mario Zambada Garcia, aka, "El Mayo." (Credit: Department of State)
Known as an astute operator skilled at corrupting officials, Zambada. He is charged in a number of U.S. cases, including in New York and California. Prosecutors brought a new indictment against him in New York in February, describing him as the "principal leader of the criminal enterprise responsible for importing enormous quantities of narcotics into the United States."
Zambada has a reputation for being able to negotiate with everyone, including rivals. He’d never set foot in prison before Thursday. Officials told the AP the cartel leader got on an airplane believing he was going somewhere else.
Zambada has pleaded guilty to various drug trafficking charges. He is being held without bond.
Removing him from the criminal landscape could set off a turbulent internal war for control over the cartel, as has occurred with the arrest or killings of other kingpins. Experts say it could also open the door for a more violent, younger generation of Sinaloa traffickers to move up.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.